Last weekend I have been to Tirumala, entirely different place seeing after many yrs. Everything was computerised right from room booking, getting tickets for darshan ,laddu issue. we got a simple room to stay. Initially I was not happy with the facilities provided there, but soon alright. There were thousands of people who had no room to stay, slept somewhere and utilised the facilities provided by TirupathiTirumalaDevasthanam for basic necessities. In seegra darshan we could finish the darshan in 3 hrs.
I felt if I had known this before we could have returned back home on same day, how are we gonna stay for 2 more days. Evening went to temple premises again to see the temple decorated with lights. I could compare Tirumala today against 10yrs back. Lot of things have been developed. There is a very big stage beside temple, where dance program, music concert, drama on Mahabharatham are conducted everyday. Pilgrims can sit in the steps in front of the temple and watch them.
The four mada streets are very clean and behind the temple is the huge Shanku, Chakra, Nama. From there we could see the temple main gopuram and thanga gopuram together.
In evenings water fountain dances for the music played.
Next day we went for dharma darshan where we have been allotted a hall to sit with other 100s of pilgrims. 3months old kid to 80 yr old elders were there. Actually we had to sit there in same hall from 1pm to 9pm. Lunch, milk, dinner were provided by TTD. But we came out of the place by 2pm and went in to the same hall by 8pm being identified by photo metric system. We were allowed to move in the Q by 9pm. People were rushing, I need not walk, they pulled me towards the temple. A baby was crying for milk, young girl fainted and fell down. I thought why people are suffering this much to see an idol who is unpredictable if he really cares for anyone. Does he really care for his devotees!!. It was such a long Q even a tortoise would move faster.Finally by 11pm we reached the pragara. Enthusiastic pilgrims behind me rushed and crushed us, I was about to cry in pain. Somehow we reached near lord in 10 minutes. The moment I had darshan, all pain vanished away and goose bumps on seeing him. Having seen, came out and sat in the pragara for sometime. My mind was so peaceful, not thinking the outside world.
Though I dont believe much in idol worship, Tirumala is always an exceptional. For few seconds of darshan, we follow fasting for few days, travel so long, wait in Q for long time...
It is so difficult for the TTD to maintain such a place where lakhs of people visit the temple daily. But they do their best. Free drinking water and rest rooms are provided every 10 mts atleast. Private hotels are everywhere and this time I had seen them selling fried rice, noodles, gobi rice, chola poori. I love the climate in hill which makes me eat a lot and munch maangai, kadalia, masal pori even if I am not hungry.
It was worth spending 3 days which was not only devotional but enjoyable. We went there had darshan, ate whatever we wanted, slept well and enjoyed the climate. Apart from enjoyment seeing different kind of people reminded me again ‘Be happy with whatever you want and whatever you have’.
